Chapter 26
26
C hris allowed Anton to place him back in the rowboat so he could return to his crew to discuss everything with them while Anna remained on the giant's hand. He stood still in the bay with his enormous feet, promising not to take a single step so that the Fortuna would not accidentally capsize.
Anna told him about her time on the pirate ship. He wanted to know everything and repeatedly asked if the captain and crew had treated her well. Anna only left out the storm. Anton had accomplished a great deal with the giants and she had accused him of stealing dust from the fairies. She didn't want to point out that his discussion with the giants had almost sent her and Freddy overboard.
Finally satisfied, Anton stopped asking for details about her voyage. He wouldn't pummel Chris because he believed that the captain had behaved like a gentleman toward Anna during her time on the Fortuna, which he had. Jack rowed the captain in the rowboat to the giant's legs, which emerged from the water like trees, and Anton lifted him into his hand without saying anything to her. Anna waved at Jack, who shifted his red pirate scarf so it was a little more askew on his head.
"Don't leave until I'm back on the Fortuna," the pirate called up to them. Anton promised and Jack winked at Anna as he rowed back vigorously. He climbed aboard the Fortuna using the rope ladder and then the rowboat was pulled up along with the anchor. If Anton's steps caused huge waves, the pirates could take advantage of the current and sail straight out to sea.
"What did you agree on?" Anna wanted to know. She had expected the captain to at least take Jack and Johnny, maybe Freddy too, but he had returned alone.
"According to the carpenter, the Fortuna survived the storm unscathed. The winds are favorable and I have whispered to the sea. My crew will sail around the land again and approach the Kingdom of Winter from the other side. Since they'll arrive later, we can look around unnoticed. As soon as we enter the Ice Palace, all eyes will be on Winter Harbor, which is near where the pirate ship of the feared Christopher O'Brien will be spotted. It's the perfect distraction and no one will expect us to be already in the city."
Anna nodded. "A great plan, don't you agree, Toni?" She tried to recapture the harmonious mood between the two that had prevailed before Chris had left for his crew. But the two eyed each other no less skeptically than before. Finally, the giant nodded halfheartedly.
After Anton made certain they were both sitting securely on his hand, he slowly started moving. There was a loud splash every time he put one foot in front of the other. Large waves rose, traveling in all directions — including toward the Fortuna. But the pirates had long since set the main sail and were making their way out of the bay and out to sea. Johnny sat up in the crow's nest and waved to them. Anna waved back, but she wobbled so much that she decided to hold on to Chris with one hand and Toni's thumb with the other. She was anything but keen on jumping from a thirty-foot tower into the icy water, so she sat stock still in the hand, clutching it tightly as her pulse raced.
"Careful, giant. Or is the lady supposed to fall overboard?"
Anton immediately looked at Anna and used his thumb to give her better support. If only it weren't for the dizzying height. Her stomach churned and she closed her eyes for a moment. Stay calm, stay calm. She had been on his hand once before while he was running and nothing had happened to her. This time, she would ride it out — she had to! Ultimately, there was no other way they could save the fairies. They had to follow Chris's lead. Anna prayed they would finally find answers in the Kingdom of Winter.
Her thoughts wandered to Iris and Margerite and the fairy tree. Both had stated that some fairies were just lying there, growing paler and paler until they finally disappeared. Hopefully, the process wasn't happening too quickly and there would still be fairies around when Anna finally discovered what had happened back then.
As promised, it didn't take long before Anton took a big step up the shoreline. As soon as there was solid ground under their feet, Anna's dizziness subsided and she felt… a little safer at this altitude.
Chris had his arm around her waist and watched her thoughtfully. "You're pretty pale under your freckles. Since when have you been afraid of heights?"
"Afraid of heights? It's not that bad, but I am not comfortable when there's a big drop next to or below me. Is that surprising?"
"For a fairy, yes." Chris peered at her thoughtfully. "How long have you been suffering from this fear?"
"Being afraid of falling while holding a giant's hand? There weren't any giants in the world I was in, so I can't tell you. I didn't have a balcony in my apartment either and…" Pensive, she took a strand of hair and wrapped it around her finger. "I've never been up a tower or anything like that. But Nele, my friend, she had a patio above the garage."
"And? How did you feel up there?"
She searched her memories, clearly seeing everything that had happened over the last few years. Only her childhood, adolescence, and early twenties had disappeared into the fog. Probably because they hadn't actually existed…
What had it been like over the last few years? Had she ever been on Nele's patio? She couldn't remember. She shook her head slowly. "I don't recall ever sitting up there, but I don't know for certain or if I avoided it."
"Either way, it's surprising. It must have something to do with your experience at the time. Maybe you fell somewhere." He paled at the idea and immediately pulled her closer to him.
"Keep your distance," Anton said suddenly.
Chris glanced up at him, shaking his head. "We're only talking."
"But you don't have to force yourself on her like that!"
"Everything's fine, Toni, I…" Anna tried to mediate, but the giant raised his other hand.
"Don't worry, Anemone, you'll be safe from him in my presence." Without further ado, he grabbed the captain and put him in his other hand, which he kept on the other side of his body so that she and Chris could only talk while shouting. They were separated by several yards.
Anna laughed while the captain glared at Anton.
"Hey, giant, what's this nonsense?"
"Hey, it's your own fault if you can't behave."
"I didn't…" Cursing, Chris stood on the giant's hand without Anton's thumb for support. "Let me go back to her or else!"
"Certainly not, Anemone…"
"…can certainly speak for herself." Anna knelt — she would never stand. There was no way she could remain serious while seeing how angry the captain looked and how calm Anton, who started whistling happily, was. Laughing, she looked at Chris, who was growing increasingly angry. "Return him to me, Toni."
"But I promised to take care of you."
It wasn't easy, but she held back her laughter, because if she didn't, then Anton wouldn't believe she was serious. "It is kind of you, Toni, but can we agree that I'll let you know when I need your help?"
Anton didn't reply at first, then he glanced at her and then at Chris. "And you're sure he's the one? Couldn't it be that a true knight or even a prince is waiting for you somewhere? Like we used to imagine for you?"
Apparently, she'd had similar conversations with Anton as she had with Nele. She shrugged, grinning. "I've already found my prince."
Anton grumbled. It almost sounded like thunder. Anna briefly checked to see if a thunderstorm was brewing somewhere, but all she could see was an azure blue sky and the bright sun.
Finally, Anton moved his right hand back to his left and set the pirate down next to Anna. "Behave, pirate!"
"I had no other plans," Chris growled, but when he heard Anna laugh, he couldn't help but smile. His eyes glowed as if he wanted to kiss her right then and there. "Where were we, madam?"
Laughing, Anna ran her fingers through her reddish-blonde strands, which made the captain's eyes widen. She noticed and grinned. "Whatever you're planning, it's better to postpone it until later, or else we'll be separated again." Laughing, she held her stomach and pointed up at Anton, who kept giving them skeptical looks.
"Aye, as I've said, there has never been a worse chaperone. I eagerly await our arrival — and our freedom." He looked to the north. "If we keep going at this rate, we'll be near the first villages that surround the Ice Palace before sunset."
Curious, Anna leaned against Toni's thumb and peered down. The ground was mostly rocky, but she spotted more and more tufts of grass growing between the stones. The rocky landscape was turning into a steppe. As far as Anna could see, the land was softening. Rolling hills, similar to those in the Kingdom of Flowers, rose to the sides and the further they walked, the colder it grew. She more frequently spotted ice crystals glittering on the blades of grass.
Shivering, Anna rubbed her arms. "My dress is definitely not appropriate for the Kingdom of Winter."
Grinning, Chris pulled her close and glanced up at Anton. "I have to warm her up, giant. You can see that, right?"
"Don't worry, you don't need to. I have furs in my bag that you can throw over yourselves." With his right hand, Anton rummaged through the bag that he carried over his shoulder and that barely stood out from his gray-green clothing. He pulled out a few skins and placed them in his hands. "I prepared a coat for each of you and a blanket for you, Anemone, so that you don't freeze at night."
"How chivalrous, giant. You even thought of me?"
"Only so that your shabby clothing doesn't blow your cover the first time you meet the inhabitants of the kingdom."
"Shabby? My coat is made of the finest leather and my shirts are well cared for. I'll refrain from commenting on your fur clothes."
Anna ignored the latest round of bickering between the two and grabbed the coat gratefully. Happy, she slipped it over her bare arms and relaxed. No other garment that she had ever worn was so warm. Even though she had nothing on her legs and the dress was short-sleeved, the coat was enough to keep her cozy — it was unbelievable how quickly the temperature had dropped. There were no buttons, but the cut was loose so she could wrap the sides around her, and it even had a hood.
"While the giant takes us to the villages, we must try to reawaken your powers."
"That's a fantastic idea." Anton beamed down at them. "I look forward to seeing your glittering wings and hearing your laughter as you fly through the air."
"Aye, finally, something we agree on, giant."
Awaken her powers? How was that going to work? "If I am actually the one blocking it, how am I supposed to remove the blockage? After all, I can't remember what happened back then."
The captain took her by the hand. "Listen to yourself. You saw it in my eyes. Picture what your wings looked like. Try to imagine they are a part of you again. I'm sure you can transform."
Anna shook her head. "Even if I wanted to, it won't work. When Margerite showed me how to assume our fairy form, she explained that we needed fairy dust. And, unfortunately, we don't have any with us."
"Blasted! Is that true?"
Anton shook his head. "No, Anemone. Remember. She said it would make the transformation easier, but she didn't mention that it was necessary."
Chris didn't give up easily either. "You have to have faith. In yourself. Ani, you can do it."
She shrugged in resignation. "Believe me, I want to save the fairies as much as you do, but I have no idea how to change forms."
"Margerite showed you." Anton pondered for a moment before continuing. "You should imagine being small, feel your wings, and perceive your magic. Then, hey, boom, you're a fairy again."
Anna sighed deeply. She would try it if she somehow felt it would make a difference, but she knew that for whatever reason, she wasn't ready yet. "Toni, that may sound simple, but it's not."
The giant scratched his scraggly beard. "What if you jump from my hand? Maybe the feeling of falling will help."
"Are you crazy, giant?" Chris looked at him indignantly and gripped Anna's hand tighter, as if he were afraid Anton would put his idea into action. "Ani can do it without being frightened for her life! She's also afraid of heights. Do you have any idea what that might do? The blockage might intensify."
"Okay, pirate, do you have a better suggestion?"
Chris peered at her thoughtfully. "We have to find another way to awaken your powers."
Anna stared off into the distance without seeing what was in front of her. There was magic somewhere within her. How could she tap into it if she didn't know what magic felt like? But wasn't Chris also using some kind of magic when he spoke to the sea? Maybe he could help her. "How do you do it when you talk to the water? That's magic too, right?"
"Aye. I focus on the sea and then I whisper in its language. It's easy."
"If you know how to do it…" She smiled half-heartedly and he took her hands.
"Ani, I know you can do it. You simply have to believe in yourself."
Only believe the unthinkable, he probably meant. Sure, she had seen herself, her reflection in his eyes. And, yes, she knew now that she had once been a fairy. Still, it was a huge step to imagine that she had actually flown through the sky and done magical things. But if the magic was truly within her — and she wanted to believe in it, no doubt about it — there had to be a way to access it. And she had to find out what it was.
Time passed while Anna was deep in thought. Anton marched steadily north and after a while, it began to snow lightly. Small flakes landed on them and nestled in their fur coats, Anton's beard, and Chris's dark eyebrows. The captain had lain down for a short nap, his arms folded behind his head. It wasn't surprising, given that he had been fighting the storm all night.
Anna let him sleep and spread a fur blanket over him as she continued to think. The few memory fragments she'd had before weren't enough to outline what had happened back then. Was she the one blocking her own powers? Or was there a strong magical being behind it, like the Snow Queen?
As if on cue, the top of a tall building appeared on the northern horizon. The closer they came, the higher it seemed to rise into the sky. As if made of pure ice, it shone like matte glass. Was that the Ice Palace?
"Stop, giant!"
Anna clutched her chest in shock. She hadn't even noticed that Chris had woken up.
"What is it?" Anton grumbled grumpily. He didn't like Chris telling him what to do.
"If you keep walking, she will see us. You have to disguise yourself and Ani and I will walk the rest of the way."
On foot? She'd seen it coming. She'd have to walk through this icy desert. For hours. The mere thought gave her frostbite. Luckily, the fur coat Anton had given her was long, covering her bare legs and reaching down to her boots. She peered skyward. The gentle snowfall continued and thick gray clouds hung overhead, consuming much of the daylight. Or was it already evening?
"How far is it to the next village?"
"A brisk one- or two-hour walk." Chris was standing on Anton's hand, peering northward.
The giant crouched on the frozen meadow and placed his hand on the ground next to him. He suspiciously eyed the captain, who immediately jumped down. "What are you up to?"
"I want to look around and ask around. Talk to people. If the Snow Queen is behind all this, I will find out. We also have to find out what she uses to fuel her magic. Maybe we can find a lead to the fairy dust."
"Make sure she doesn't get her hands on Anemone — if it was her." The giant sighed, causing Anna's hair to flap wildly. "I do not have a good feeling about this. Wouldn't you rather stay with me, Anemone? I don't want anything terrible to happen to you again."
Anna smiled and stroked his hand. "I can't stay, Toni. I need to know what happened to me. Only by figuring out how to reactivate the fairy dust source can I save the fairies… my family."
The giant smiled and a tear glittered in his moss-green eyes. "You called them your family. Finally. Now I know everything will be okay, Anemone. Still, take care of yourself. If something seems wrong, come back to me. I will be waiting for you here."
"Thanks, Toni. Everything will be fine."
"Come, madam, there's no time to waste." Chris held out his hand and grinned boldly at her. She guessed why he was in a hurry. Laughing, she said goodbye to Anton and hurried off with the captain toward the Ice Palace, where they would hopefully find some answers.